Transportation

Interstates 39, 55 and 74 intersect at Bloomington, making the city a substantial transportation hub. US highways 51 and 150 and Illinois state route 9 also run through Bloomington. The former highway, US Route 66, once ran directly through the city's downtown and later on a bypass to the east. The Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System operates Bloomington-Normal's internal bus system, and several intercity bus lines operate both north-south and east-west service through the city.

• The Central Illinois Regional Airport is located two miles east of Veteran’s Parkway on Route 9 in Bloomington. The airport's large, modern terminal features nine gates serving five airlines (AirTran, American, Delta, Northwest,and United), five car rental agencies, several retail shops, a business center open to the general public, conference rooms, and a VIP lounge to cater to busy business travelers. Wireless internet access is available throughout the building and free parking and shuttle service is offered year-round.

• Amtrak  from its Bloomington-Normal station, operates five daily trains each way, both north to Chicago and south to St. Louis, with one southbound train (the "Texas Eagle") continuing on to San Antonio TX and connecting to Los Angeles CA (as the "Sunset Limited"). The Amtrak passenger count in Bloomington-Normal is fourth-highest in the region, behind Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Louis (Amtrak statistics for 4th quarter, 2007). The station is located just east of the Illinois State University campus in Normal.

     Historic Sites 

• Ewing Manor, located on the Sunset Hill estate of the late Hazle Buck Ewing, sits majestically in the wooded landscape at the northwest corner of Towanda Avenue and Emerson Street. Completed in 1929, Ewing Manor was designed by Bloomington architect Phil Hooten in the Channel-Norman style so favored by the affluent in the post-Victorian period. The surrounding gardens were created by noted landscape architect Jens Jansen, who also designed Springfield’s Lincoln Memorial Gardens. The theatre on the grounds play host to the Illinois Shakespeare Festival each summer.

• The McLean County Museum of History traces its roots back to 1892, the year the McLean County Historical Society was founded. Housed inside the old McLean County Courthouse, the Museum features permanent and rotating exhibits that explore the history of Central Illinois. The Museum also offers educational programming, library and archive resources, and sponsors many community events. Being showcased now through August 2010 is A Turbulent Time: Perspectives of the Vietnam War.The Museum also provides a driving audio-tour highlighting Lincoln historic sites in Bloomington-Normal as part of their inclusion in the Looking For Lincoln attraction listing. This location is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• The Miller Park Pavilion & War Memorial was restored in 1977 and was dedicated in May of 1988. The black granite memorial is surrounded by red sidewalks that list the names of Central Illinois residents killed or missing in action in the Korean and Vietnam battles.

• The Prairie Aviation Museum has a collection of preserved aircraft on display, revolving aviation exhibits and memorabilia, a mini-theatre, and much more. Exhibit highlights include a Bell Sea Cobra, Huey Helicopter, and a F-14 Tomcat. The Museum’s DC-3 Flagship is located in a hangar nearby and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Challenger Learning Center, located right next door, engages students in the fields of science, math and technology.

• The Evergreen Memorial Cemetery also known as the Evergreen Cemetery is the burial site of many notable Bloomington-Normal citizens including the Stevenson family. Adlai E. Stevenson I was Vice President to Grover Cleveland and Adlai E. Stevenson II was Governor of Illinois, Ambassador to the United Nations and twice Democratic candidate for the United States Presidency. Also buried there are Adlai’s wife, Letitia Green Stevenson, who was the second National President-General of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and her sister, Julia Green Scott, the seventh National President-General of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Other historical figures buried there include David Davis, friend and mentor to Abraham Lincoln; Charles Radbourne, 19th Century baseball’s greatest pitcher; and Dorothy Gage, inspiration for the main character in the Wizard of Oz and niece of author L. Frank Baum.

• The David Davis Mansion offers a glimpse into the life friend and mentor to Abraham Lincoln, David Davis who served as a United States Supreme Court Justice and was a key component during Lincoln’s bid for the 1860 Presidential nomination. The Davis Mansion, completed in 1872, combines Italianate and Second Empire architectural features and is a model of mid-Victorian style and taste. His Bloomington home, which remained in the Davis family for three succeeding generations, contains the most modern conveniences of that era; a coal-burning stove, gas lighting and indoor plumbing. Groups of ten or more must pre-arrange a visit.The David Davis Mansion is listed as a Looking For Lincoln location as well as a historic landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.

• The Vrooman Mansion, built in 1869, is available for special events, including weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, showers, reunions, etc. The Mansion also holds cooking classes, fashion shows, and an annual Holiday Open House. Group lunches are available with advanced reservations, which include a tour.This location is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Other historical landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
  • Rubin Benjamin House
  • George H. Cox House
  • David Davis III House
  • Robert Greenlee House
  • John M. Hamilton House
  • Holy Trinity Rectory
  • McLean County Courthouse
  • George H. Miller House
  • Miller-Davis Law Building
  • Stevenson House
  • White Building